Ride a tiger

To ride a tiger is to be in a very precarious or dangerous situation and this usage dates from the late 19th century. It derives from an Ancient Chinese proverb, ‘he who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount’ which became fashionable in Britain during the 19th century.

生词短语：

precarious

危险的; 摇摇欲坠的

derive

得到; (使)起源; (使)产生

dismount

下(马、自行车、摩托车)

fashionable

流行的; 时兴的